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Read about why these two aspiring freshman decided to take up Civil Engineering
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Read about how to go about choosing modules in year 3
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How To Choose Your Modules in Year 3
For year 1 and year 2 civil engineering undergraduates, it is never too early to start planning what modules you want to take in year 3. For those who are very sure of the path you want to take, the modules are more or less fixed. For example, if one is interested in the structural track, then the level 3000 modules to take are CE 3165, RC Structural Systems, CE 3166/CE 3164 CE Materials and Structural Steel Systems/Structural Steel Design. For those who are unsure, here’s a little help in choosing the modules you want.
People’s Advice
Seniors
Having been through the modules before you, direct seniors (the batch just ahead of you) are an excellent source of information, news, tips, notes, and textbooks.
Professors
If one is interested or courageous enough, one can approach the course professor and ask them what they will be teaching in the module, whether it is difficult and workload. Do note that course professors vary with each academic year.
Graduates/industry personnel
New graduates and current industry personnel are also an excellent source of information as they would have just recently graduated and can advise you on the modules to take depending on the track you want to pursue. Also, they can be asked which modules they find more useful and whether what is learnt is used/practiced in the workplace. However, it is difficult to contact them unless one asks the department or knows them personally.
Friends/Family
Of course, some of us choose certain courses or modules due to the influence or friends and family. Thus, it would be good to listen to advice or persuasion from these important people. After the year 2 examinations, many students usually go around asking their friends’ “Next semester want to take this module together or not?”
Internet, IVLE
The internet, course website, and department websites are good sources of information on the details or each module and the tracks and prerequisites for taking them.
Undergraduate Curriculum Handbook Showing modules one can take / Department Office
In our first year, there was an undergraduate curriculum handbook for students who wanted to purchase a copy. http://www.eng.nus.edu.sg/civil/ This handbook is useful in showing all the modules provided, the details, tracks/specialization and prerequisites. However, due to changes, the handbook could be outdated by the time one reaches year 3. Do not worry as CE Department sends out the list of available modules and course requirements a month before CORS bidding.
Why choose those modules?
Before choosing a module, one needs to have a rough idea of what one intends to pursue. You should know your strengths and weaknesses, opportunities if you take the modules, other modules and whether you intend to specialize. This is because level 5000 modules to be taken in year 4 have certain pre requisites so you need to choose wisely. For example, as mentioned earlier, if students want to specialize in structural engineering, then CE 3165, RC Structural Systems, CE 3166/CE 3164 CE Materials and Structural Steel Systems/Structural Steel Design are prerequisites for level 5000 modules such as CE 5509 Advanced Structural Steel Design, CE 5510 Advanced Structural Concrete Design, CE 5604 Advanced Concrete Technology, etc.
How I chose my modules?
Personally, I asked others what they were doing and why they were doing it.
Some told me they choose the easier modules based on senior feedback and experiences. They want to score as many ‘A’s as possible. Some just want to learn as much as possible. Some want to learn and score. Some look at the course professor (although this changes year to year). Some love the particular tracks of geotechnical, structural, transportation, etc.
A friend once did an analysis of one particular module which is known to be challenging. He told me that all the dean’s list students were taking it and since there were only 55 students in our class, the highest I could possibly score is going to be B+ since the deans listers would account for the 10 A+/A/A-. That was in the 2 nd week of the semester when one could drop the module without any penalties. But I reasoned with him that what we learn in year 2 on that topic was insufficient especially if we look long term at the requirements for our Final Year Project where we would require the knowledge from this particular module.
Comparing Level 2000 vs Level 3000 modules
Firstly, Level 2000 modules are introductory civil engineering module which is still considered basic and covers a lot of breadth and little depth. Level 3000 modules, or technical electives as they are better known, are modules which go into a little more detail. For example, in geotechnical engineering CE 3115, you are already expected to know how to calculate effective pore water pressure from total stress and effective stress. You also need to know the mohr’s circle, shear stress, drained, undrained, consolidation, seepage, etc as professors would assume you have been taught and mastered it from CE2112 Soil Mechanics.
Secondly, for level 3000 modules, do not be surprised if you only know how to do 2 out of 5 tutorial questions. Level 3000, being technical electives, have more formulae, more analysis and theory, which is to be expected. But level 3000 modules are also more interesting and useful for the working world.
Sidetracking a little, the good thing about CE level 3000 modules are you get them for 1 point as the rest of the university does not fight with you over level 3000 technical electives.
Also, just as level 3000 modules are different from level 2000 modules, engineering modules are very different from Arts, Business, Science and other faculties’ modules.
I would not presume to be in a position to advise anyone on which modules are must takes and which are to be avoided at all costs.
Rather, I have methodically listed all the sources of information a student may consult before deciding which modules to take up. You may choose to refer to one source or utilize all the sources. But at the end, the decision is still yours and it is up to you to make a choice based on feedback gathered.
My only advice is to choose with care because what you choose will determine what track you take and what choices you have in year 4 and career opportunities upon graduation.